Door hinge

ABSTRACT

A hinge which in the closed position thereof is completely set back from the outer surface of the framing encompassing a door associated with the hinge and which permits substantially 180* of rotation of the door to an open position. The hinge is comprised of a hinge member which is movably connected to a support bracket. Restraining means is provided for maintaining the hinge member in a first predetermined position whereby the door can be rotated to the closed position. Releasing means is provided for freeing the movable hinge member from the restraining means whereby it can be moved to a second predetermined position permitting substantially 180* rotation of the door to the open position thereof.

United States Patent Breunich et al.

[ DOOR HINGE [72] Inventors: Theodore R. Breunich, Stanford, Conn.;

Henry B. Klatte, Yonkers, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Universal Oil Products Company, Des

Plaines, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 [21] App1.N0.: 77,787

[52] U.S. Cl ..16/128, 16/144, 16/166,

[51] Int. Cl ..E05d 9/00 [58] Field oiSearch ..16/141,142,143,144,145, 16/164, 178, 179, 165, 166, 82, 85; 109/62 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,880,449 4/1959 Frohlich ..16/141 1 Mar. 28, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 480,525 12/1969 Germany ..16/164 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant ExaminerGarry Moore Attorney-James R. Hoatson, Jr. and Ronald H. Hausch [5 7] ABSTRACT A hinge which in the closed position thereof is completely set back from the outer surface of the framing encompassing a door associated with the hinge and which permits substantially 180 of rotation of the door to an open position. The hinge is comprised of a hinge member which is movably connected to a support bracket. Restraining means is provided for maintaining the hinge member in a first predetermined position whereby the door can be rotated to the closed position. Releasing means is provided for freeing the movable hinge member from the restraining means whereby it can be moved to a second predetermined position permitting substantially 180 rotation of the door to the open position thereof.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented March 28, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

FIG. 4

INVENTOR$-' Theodore A. Breun/bh Henry B. K/a/fe BY.-

DOOR HINGE The present invention relates to a hinge for a door or panel and more particularly to a hinge that is completely set back from the outer surface of the framing encompassing a door associated with such hinge and which permits substantially 180 of rotation of such door to its open position.

Typically, when a door is provided with an internal hinge it cannot be opened a full 180 unless part of the hinge and particularly the pivot part of the hinge extends beyond the outer surface of the framing.

Thus, it is a principal object of this invention to provide for a hinge that will permit 180 rotation of the door associated with the hinge and yet will not be externally visible.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide for a hinge which is completely set back from the outer surface of the framing encompassing a door associated with the hinge and which permits substantially 180 of rotation of the door to an open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide for a hinge that allows the door to be flush with the outer surface of the framing when in its closed position.

Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to provide for a hinge that has a hinge member movably connected to a support bracket and which has two positions, one position permitting the door to be closed without any visible hardware and the other position permitting the door to be opened to 180 from its closed position.

In broad aspects, the present invention provides for a hinge which in the closed position thereof is completely set back from the outer surface of the framing encompassing a door associated with said hinge and which permits substantially 180 of rotation of said door to an open position thereof comprising in combination: a support bracket member; a hinge member movably connected to said support bracket member having means for connecting to and supporting said door in a rotatable manner; restraining means connected to one of said members and connectable to the other of said members for maintaining said hinge member in a first predetermined position whereby said door can be rotated to the closed position thereof; and, releasing means connected to the door for freeing said movable hinge member from said restraining means whereby said hinge member can be moved to a second predetermined position permitting substantially 180 rotation of said door to the open position thereof.

In its preferred embodiment, the restraining means comprises a latch rotatably connected to the support bracket member and a spring means biased to maintain the latch in contact with a projecting portion of the hinge member to thereby maintain the hinge member in the first predetermined position thereof. Typically, the releasing means includes a cam which is connected to the door and positioned adjacent to the latch when the door is in its closed position. Any rotation of the door will thus cause the cam to move the latch against the bias of the spring means away from the projecting portion of the hinge member to thus permit movement of the hinge member to the second predetermined position thereof.

In a modified embodiment there is provided guide means which include a cam surface on the support bracket member and a cam pin connected to the hinge member in contact with the cam surface. The cam surface is shaped to cause the hinge member to slide and rotate into the second predetermined position. Thus, the movable hinge member not only moves to a position permitting the 180 of rotation of the door but is rotated to a position which will move the door laterally in relation to the framing to thus increase the size of the unobstructed opening.

Reference to the accompanying drawing and the following description thereof will serve to point out and more fully illustrate the design and construction of this invention as well as to assist in further pointing out advantageous features in connection therewith.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the hinge of this present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the front elevational view of FIG. 1 showing the movable hinge member in its second predetermined position.

FIG. 4 is the side elevational view of FIG. 2 showing the movable hinge member in its second predetennined position.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a modified embodiment of the hinge of this invention.

F1G. 6 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is the elevational view of FIG. 7 showing the second predetermined position of the movable hinge member.

FIG. 8 is the side elevational view of FIG. 6 showing the movable hinge member in its second predetermined position.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawing, there is shown a hinge 1 which supports a door 2 in a rotatable manner. Hinge l is connected to the framing 3 and is positioned so the door 2 abuts a jam 4 on the opposite end of the framing. Hinge 1 is comprised of a support bracket member 5 and a hinge member 6 movably connected to the support bracket member. A restraining means 7 is connected to support bracket member 5 and is connectable to hinge member 6 for maintaining such hinge member in a first predetermined position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 whereby the door can be rotated to its closed position. Releasing means 8 is connected to the door and is used for freeing the movable hinge member 6 from the restraining means whereby the hinge member can be moved to its second predetermined position as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

More particularly, support bracket member 5 comprises a base plate 10 which may be connected to the framing 3 via connectors or other suitable conventional connector means 11. Support bracket member 5 has an upper plate 12 which has an opening 14 therein and a lower plate 13 which has an opening 15 therein. A slide pin 19 is inserted through these openings and is maintained in position via heat 20. In addition, support bracket member 5 has a support guide plate 16.

The hinge member 6 is comprised of a pivot plate 21 to which the door 2 is rotatably connected, a center plate 22, a hinge guide plate 23, and a support section 24 for hinge guide plate 23. Connected to hinge guide plate 23 is an upper support guide bracket 26 and a lower support guide bracket 27. The upper support guide bracket 26 has an opening 28 and the lower support guide 27 has an opening 29 therein. The hinge member 6 is placed adjacent to the support bracket to be in a position wherein guide plate 26 abuts guide plate 23 and pin 19 clears openings 28 and 29 of brackets 26 and 27. Thus, hinge member 6 is free to slide adjacent support guide plate 26 and around pin 19 of support bracket member 5. A projecting portion 30 supported by support 31 is also included in the hinge member 6 to provide a surface which is connectable to the restraining means 7.

Restraining means 7 is connected in this particular embodiment to the support bracket member 5, but may on the other hand be connected to the hinge member 6 if a surface such as projecting portion 30 is provided on the support bracket member 5. Restraining means 7 is comprised of a spacer 33, a latch 34, a washer 35, and a washer 37 which are connected to the support bracket member 5 in a rotatable manner via bolt 32. A spring 36 is connected between washers 32 and 35 to bolt 32 and is positioned to contact latch 34. Spring 36 is biased to maintain the latch surface 40 in contact with the projecting portion 30 of the hinge member to thereby maintain the hinge member in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Door 2 has a mounting block 44 to which pivot plate 21 is attached in a rotatable manner via a connector or other suitable connector means 45. The mounting block 44 has a cam surface 8 which serves as the releasing means for hinge 1. Cam surface 8 is disposed in such a manner to be adjacent to latch 34 when door 2 is in the closed position. Any rotation of the door from this closed position will cause cam 8 to move the latch 34 against the bias of spring means 36 away from the projecting portion 30. Once clear, movement of the hinge member to the second predetermined position of FIGS. 3 and 4 is possible. A compression spring 25 is provided to contact the support bracket member 5 and the hinge member 6 between the upper plate 12 of the support bracket and of upper bracket 26 of hinge member. The compression spring is biased to force the hinge member into the second predetermined position.

When the door 2 is in its closed position, the hinge member 6 is in its uppermost position as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is maintained in this position by latch 34 which contacts projecting portion 30 of the hinge member via its surface 40. As soon as the door 2 is rotated a small amount, the cam surface 8 causes the latch 34 to rotate away from the projecting portion 30. Once clear of projection 30, the compression spring 25 forces the hinge member 6 into the second predetermined position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is noted that motion to the second position is stopped when lower support guide bracket 27 abuts lower plate 13 of the support bracket member 5. In this second predetermined position, the door 2 may be rotated a full 180 as shown. To return the door and the hinge member to the first predetermined position of FIGS. 1 and 2, the door is merely rotated back to its original position and the hinge member 6 is moved to a position wherein the latch member contacts projecting portion 30 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Reference is now made to FIGS. through 8 of the drawing where a modified hinge 51 is shown. Associated with hinge 51 is a door 52 which is adapted to abut against jam 54. Also shown is the framing 53 associated with the particular hinge or door.

The hinge includes a support bracket member 55 and a hinge member 56 movably connected to the support bracket member. Also included is the restraining means 57 connected to the support bracket member 55 and releasing means 58 connected to the door 52.

The support bracket member 55 comprises a base plate 60 which is connected to the framing via connectors 61 or other suitable connection means. Support bracket member 55 also includes an upper plate 62 with an upper opening 64 and a lower plate 63 with a lower opening 65. A slide pin 69 is located within openings 64 and 65 and is maintained in place via head 70. Support bracket member 55 has a support guide plate 66 which has a curved slot or cam surface 67.

The hinge member 56 has a pivot plate 71 for connection to door 52. Hinge member 56 has a center plate 72 and a hinge guide plate 73 which is connected to the center plate via support plate 74. Connected to the hinge guide plate 73 is a cam pin 75 which is maintained in place via cotter pin 78 and which is sized to fit within the slot 67. A support guide bracket 77 with an opening 79 is rotatably connected to the hinge guide plate 73 via a connector or other suitable means 88. Support guide bracket 77 is positioned on hinge guide plate 73 so that pin 69 will clear opening 79. A projecting portion 80 supported by support plate 81 and which is connectable to restraining means 57 is located on hinge member 56.

Restraining means 57 is comprised of a spacer 83, a latch 84, a washer 85, and a washer 87 connected in a rotatable manner to the support bracket member 55 via bolt 82. Also included is a spring 86 connected to the bolt 82 between the washers which contacts latch 84 to maintain the surface 90 of the latch against projecting portion 80 of the hinge member. Latch 84 thus maintains hinge member 56 in its first predetermined position as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 whereby door 52 can be rotated into its closed position as shown.

A mounting block 94 is connected to the door and is utilized for mounting of the door 52 to the hinge member 56 in a rotatable manner via connector 95. A cam surface 58 which serves as the releasing means is located on mounting block 94 and positioned adjacent to the latch 84 when the door is in a closed position. Thus, any rotation of the door from the closed position will cause cam surface 58 to push latch 84 away from projecting portion 80 against the bias of the spring 86. Hinge member 56 is thus free to be moved to the second predetermined position of FIGS. 7 and 8. A compression spring 100 is provided in contact with the support bracket member and the hinge member between the upper plate 62 and the support guide bracket 77 and is biased to force hinge member 56 into this second predetermined position. Thus, when hinge member 56 is released from its latched position, the compression spring forces hinge member 56 to move to the second predetermined position.

In this particular embodiment, the cam surface or slot 67 guides the pin member 75 in a curved path defined by the cam surface 67. Since bracket 77 is rotatably connected to the hinge member, hinge member 56 not only slides but also rotates into the second predetennined position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 8 the hinge member 5 moves to a position which provides a larger unobstructed opening when the door is opened.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the present invention provides a hinge for a door that is completely set back from the outer surface of the framing encompassing the door and which permits a full rotation of the door in its open position. It is noted that the specific illustrations shown here are illustrative only and any variations of structure and proportion should be considered to form part of the invention inasfar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the claims. Of course, other refinements may be made without diverting from the scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A hinge which in the closed position thereof is completely set back from the outer surface of the framing encompassing a door associated with said hinge and which permits substantially 180 of rotation of said door to an open position thereof comprising in combination:

a. a support bracket member;

b. a hinge member movably connected to said support bracket member having means for connecting to and supporting said door in a rotatable manner;

c. restraining means connected to one of said members and connectable to the other of said members for maintaining said hinge member in a first predetermined position whereby said door can be rotated to the closed position thereof; and,

. releasing means connected to the door for freeing said movable hinge member from said restraining means whereby said hinge member can be moved to a second predetermined position permitting substantially 180 rotation of said door to the open position thereof.

2. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that said hinge member has a projecting portion and in that said restraining means comprises a latch rotatably connected to said support bracket member and spring means biased to maintain said latch in contact with the projecting portion of said hinge member to thereby maintain the hinge member in the first predetermined position thereof.

3. The hinge of claim 2 further characterized in that said releasing means includes a cam connected to said door and positioned adjacent to said latch when said door is in a closed position whereby rotation of said door will cause said cam to move the latch against the bias of said spring means away from the projecting portion of said hinge member to thus permit movement of said hinge member to the second predetermined position thereof.

4. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that said hinge member is slideably connected to said support bracket member.

5. The hinge of claim I further characterized in that guide means is connected to said support bracket member and said hinge member for guiding said hinge member to the second predetermined position thereof.

6. The hinge of claim 5 further characterized in that said guide means includes a cam surface on said support bracket member and a cam pin connected to said hinge member in contact with said cam surface.

7. The hinge of claim 6 further characterized in that said cam surface is shaped to cause said hinge member to slide and rotate into the second predetermined position thereof.

8. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that the first predetermined position of said hinge member corresponds to a closed position of said door wherein the outer surface of said door is flush with the outer surface of said framing.

9. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that a spring 5 is provided in contact with said support bracket member and said hinge member biased to force said hinge member into the second predetermined position thereof. 

1. A hinge which in the closed position thereof is completely set back from the outer surface of the framing encompassing a door associated with said hinge and which permits substantially 180* of rotation of said door to an open position thereof comprising in combination: a. a support bracket member; b. a hinge member movably connected to said support bracket member having means for connecting to and supporting said door in a rotatable manner; c. restraining means connected to one of said members and connectable to the other of said members for maintaining said hinge member in a first Predetermined position whereby said door can be rotated to the closed position thereof; and, d. releasing means connected to the door for freeing said movable hinge member from said restraining means whereby said hinge member can be moved to a second predetermined position permitting substantially 180* rotation of said door to the open position thereof.
 2. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that said hinge member has a projecting portion and in that said restraining means comprises a latch rotatably connected to said support bracket member and spring means biased to maintain said latch in contact with the projecting portion of said hinge member to thereby maintain the hinge member in the first predetermined position thereof.
 3. The hinge of claim 2 further characterized in that said releasing means includes a cam connected to said door and positioned adjacent to said latch when said door is in a closed position whereby rotation of said door will cause said cam to move the latch against the bias of said spring means away from the projecting portion of said hinge member to thus permit movement of said hinge member to the second predetermined position thereof.
 4. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that said hinge member is slideably connected to said support bracket member.
 5. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that guide means is connected to said support bracket member and said hinge member for guiding said hinge member to the second predetermined position thereof.
 6. The hinge of claim 5 further characterized in that said guide means includes a cam surface on said support bracket member and a cam pin connected to said hinge member in contact with said cam surface.
 7. The hinge of claim 6 further characterized in that said cam surface is shaped to cause said hinge member to slide and rotate into the second predetermined position thereof.
 8. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that the first predetermined position of said hinge member corresponds to a closed position of said door wherein the outer surface of said door is flush with the outer surface of said framing.
 9. The hinge of claim 1 further characterized in that a spring is provided in contact with said support bracket member and said hinge member biased to force said hinge member into the second predetermined position thereof. 